Nautica..Auckland to Sydney

[Jancruz]

Hi everyone,

We are 3 days out and it feels like forever, Stu and I have been laughing (or crying ) for 3 days..Flew to Papeete great flight met some clients on board and landed safely..had made arrangements to be picked up In Papeete but the man wasnt there..finally showed up holding up someone elses name sign..took us to the Sheraton where we met another couple (Fayes) who we have cruised with before..also friends..went to the dining room where they ate dinner and I just wanted a fruit punch which never arrived..Tahiti is like Mexico..tomorrow..

Next morning our wake up call didnt come..but I woke at 4:am anyway..later find out the other couple got 2 calls..LOL..we hired a van from the desk to take us to airport and I went to pay with my amex card..which I had already lost along with my drivers license and my starbucks card..I was really pissed about my Starbucks card..(have since canceled AMEX)

Go to get into the van..which has a very high step and grab the seat which promptly collapses and I am on the ground on my butt..The driver is sitting there looking at me and Stu is helping me up we are both laughing until we cried..

get to the airport..they dump us and luggage on the street and start to drive away..I guess they were in a hurry..BUT I was still in the back seat laughing so hard I couldnt talk..they finally

discovered I was still in the van and stopped..

Needless to say Papeete is a hick town and getting through their lines was ridiculous..

Nice But bumpy flight to Auckland..and we met some other couples on the plane that will be on the ship..

New Zealand is very fussy about what you bring in their country and suffice it to say..Stu by accident left an orange in his carry on..WELL..there is a $200 fine for this and Security had him in seclusion for 1.5 hours..(In the end he didnt pay) but he started out with you are going to cause me another heart attack and after the 1.5 hours, we are bringing 180 people here next year so he guesses he will take them to Australia..! Not sure what turned the tide but they let him leave with no fine, while 6 other people in front of him paid $200 each!!..Now I did not hire anyone in Auckland to take us to the hotel but there is a guy with a sign, Fishbein Party (we were four as the Fayes who we were with at the hotel the night before were with us..)

On the way to the car I discovered 2 of our cases were soaked as it had been raining and they had been in puddles..We get to the hotel..LOVELY hotel and the driver Bruce, wouldnt take any money said it was paid for..we were laughing again..he must have been from Tahiti..

Most of the clothes in our suitcase were wet..BUT we have an apartment in this hotel so I have already done 2 loads of laundry..all I can say, is I know the rest of the trip will be great..LOL

We have four couples here today and tomorrow I have planned a tour for 20..so we will get to see more of Auckland..

Love to all..

Jan

P.S. Stu is in the computer in Auckland as a felon....ROTFL

[digby]

How we envy you! We were supposed to be sailing with you on the 24th, but had to cancel because of our dog's brain tumor. I'll be following your progress at every step. Hope you all have a wonderful voyage!

[Aussie Gal]

Jan,

 

Thanks for posting. What a time you had in Papeete. Once there, you are on their way of life, everything will happen in its own time!

 

New Zealand is even stricter than Australia with regard to bringing in fruit and food stuffs. We have a program here called "Border Security" which shows how many people are fined over there for the smallest breach. Everyone please be careful with food when visiting both our countries as the laws are very strict.

 

Jennie

[raffeer]

Jan-

I feel guilty but I was giggling while reading your post. It's been a lousy day and I needed that. You can stop the drama now I feel much better.

I think a more boring few days might be good for both of you.

Beatrice

[raffeer]

Jan-

I feel guilty but I was giggling while reading your post. It's been a lousy day and I needed that. You can stop the drama now I feel much better.

I think a more boring few days might be good for both of you.

Beatrice

[Jana]

Jan, I am so sorry I didn't make this trip with you. I don't think I'll even read your reports because it will make me cry.

 

And I'm sorry I didn't call you before you left. All I wanted to talk to you about was the theme cruise you have set up for this summer, I put it on the Cruise Critic Theme Cruise Round-Up update which should go up before the end of the week.

 

Have a wonderful time. We'll meet sometime soon.

 

Jana

[potterhill]

Glad you're able to laugh and that you weren't injured when you fell. Broken hips are no fun at all. We always say we're making memories when things go wrong.

 

We are thinking of this cruise in the future so will be following your trip with interest.

 

Hopefully things will be better from hereon in. Have a wonderful trip. We just got back from Kenya and I am really missing the sun. Of course, if you live in California, I guess that's just ho hum everyday normal.

 

Mo

[Shearwaters]

Digby - hope your dog gets on alright. Let us know.

[digby]

Thanks! He has not had a seizure since July thanks to his meds. Of course, we don't know how long that will last which is why we don't feel we can leave him at a kennel for weeks at a time. Right now, you'd never know he had a problem just judging by how he acts.

[Sunny Sailing]

New Zealand is very fussy about what you bring in their country and suffice it to say..Stu by accident left an orange in his carry on..WELL..there is a $200 fine for this and Security had him in seclusion for 1.5 hours..(In the end he didnt pay) but he started out with you are going to cause me another heart attack and after the 1.5 hours, we are bringing 180 people here next year so he guesses he will take them to Australia..!

 

Hi

We read your posting with interest. However we were surprised that, as a travel agent, you did not know about our (and Australia’s) strict biosecurity regulations which are well advertised -see following from Auckland Airport

"The MAF Bio security New Zealand staff at Auckland Airport work to protect New Zealand's important agriculture and horticulture industries. A range of checks are processes are used to detect pests and diseases. These processes include:

Detection dogs

MAF Biosecurity NZ staff work with highly-trained detection dogs throughout the arrivals area. The dogs sniff out specific agricultural, horticultural and animal products such as fresh fruit, meat, eggs, plants and reptiles.

Quarantine declaration form

All airline passengers are given a quarantine declaration form on their incoming flight. Passengers must fill the form out fully and truthfully, and declare all food, plant or animal matter items.

Items which should be declared include - but are not limited to:

meat and animal products

seeds, plants, fruit or vegetables

equipment used with animals or for camping

airline food

Amnesty bins are provided in the arrivals area for passengers to dispose of food or prohibited items. "

 

NZ is an Island nation with a unique flora and fauna plus an economy dependent on it's primary industry exports, therefore biosecurity has significant importance.

 

We travel to many countries (the US included) and even when we find some requirements intrusive (ie photos and fingerprints when entering the US) we accept that this is deemed necessary for the well being of that particular country.

It would be a pity if by your oversight people get the impression that NZ is a country that should not be on their travel itinerary.

I hope that the rest of your cruise in New Zealand is wonderful.

PS: We are meeting Nautica tomorrow in Wellington to escort a couple of cruisers around our beautiful city.

[Jana]

I think Jan is well aware of the restrictions and why they are valid. She said "Stu by accident left an orange..." The rest was just her humor and I am sure was not meant to be offensive in any way.

[Jancruz]

Hi

We read your posting with interest. However we were surprised that, as a travel agent, you did not know about our (and Australia’s) strict biosecurity regulations which are well advertised -see following from Auckland Airport

"The MAF Bio security New Zealand staff at Auckland Airport work to protect New Zealand's important agriculture and horticulture industries. A range of checks are processes are used to detect pests and diseases. These processes include:

Detection dogs

MAF Biosecurity NZ staff work with highly-trained detection dogs throughout the arrivals area. The dogs sniff out specific agricultural, horticultural and animal products such as fresh fruit, meat, eggs, plants and reptiles.

Quarantine declaration form

All airline passengers are given a quarantine declaration form on their incoming flight. Passengers must fill the form out fully and truthfully, and declare all food, plant or animal matter items.

Items which should be declared include - but are not limited to:

meat and animal products

seeds, plants, fruit or vegetables

equipment used with animals or for camping

airline food

Amnesty bins are provided in the arrivals area for passengers to dispose of food or prohibited items. "

 

NZ is an Island nation with a unique flora and fauna plus an economy dependent on it's primary industry exports, therefore biosecurity has significant importance.

 

We travel to many countries (the US included) and even when we find some requirements intrusive (ie photos and fingerprints when entering the US) we accept that this is deemed necessary for the well being of that particular country.

It would be a pity if by your oversight people get the impression that NZ is a country that should not be on their travel itinerary.

I hope that the rest of your cruise in New Zealand is wonderful.

PS: We are meeting Nautica tomorrow in Wellington to escort a couple of cruisers around our beautiful city.

 

I am quite offended that you took my toungue in cheek piece with such seriousness..Of course I know your countires regulations..I have been here before and came back because it is so wonderful..My husband on the other hand had a serious heart attack (as many on this board know) and it affected his short term memory..I was very proud of him for explaining patiently what his problem was to the inspector..who I might add was very rude and harsh..and the whole article was to make fun of Stu and I..

Enough said!!

The weather on this trip unfortunately up until today has been cool and rainy but we are having a wonderful time as always..yesterday we were in Napier a darling town that is very art deco and so much fun to walk around in..there are free hour walking tours given by the town docents that were very enjoyable..last night again high seas but today is absolutely gorgeous..we are in Wellington and the sun is shining and we are about to go ashore..we have a pub crawling adventure this afternoon and knowing Stu and I we will probably be crawling back to the ship..

Oceania is wonderful as usual..food marvelous and staff absolutely the best!!

 

If you havent signed up for this trip you are missing one of the best!!

We have full day tours in the next couple of ports so back to you in the evenings..

Regards,

Jan

*****

P.S.

Thanks Jana for "getting" my post and I look forward to meeting or at least talking to you one day..

[Lane40]

Jan....thanks for the thread. I, like a previous poster, apologize to you for smiling, well, laughing at your original post. It is always funny when the misfortune is something you can end up laughing about. Here is a toast that the remainder of your trip/cruise brings you happiness and otherwise laughable misfortunes.

 

Hey, check out cabin 6088 for me and let me know how it is looking. Might have to bribe someone to let you in and take pics and notes....laughing.

 

Have fun....be careful....take care